A man who allegedly circumvented a security checkpoint at Millennium Park on Friday evening, and was then shot by an off-duty Cook County sheriff’s deputy after pointing a gun at the officer and other security guards, was ordered held without bail on Sunday..
Chicago police originally said Jordan Jackson shot at park security workers, but Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said Sunday there was no evidence that he fired the weapon.
Jackson, 22, walked away from an entrance to the park after refusing to allow security workers to scan him with a metal detector at one of the city’s newly-installed checkpoints around 7:22 p.m.
A security officer radioed information about what happened to other officers along with a description of Jackson, Murphy said. Jackson eventually breached the park’s perimeter near The Bean sculpture and three security guards, including the off-duty officer, began following him.
Jackson continued to walk through the park without acknowledging the guards and eventually rushed into Lurie Garden, Murphy said. He then turned back toward the guards, held a silver handgun in front of him, and aimed it at them, according to Murphy.
Video reportedly showed the guards diving for cover and park patrons running for safety.
The off-duty officer fired several shots at Jackson, striking him one time in the buttocks, Murphy said. Jackson allegedly ran from the scene with other security officers in pursuit.
Upon reaching the Chicago Riverwalk near Columbus Drive, Jackson allegedly threw his gun into the river and jumped onto a tiki-themed party boat. Police arrested him there. CPD divers recovered the discarded gun from the river bottom on Saturday. It was loaded with 12 rounds and had a defaced serial number, according to Murphy.
Jackson has no criminal background, Murphy said.
Prosecutors charged Jackson with three counts of aggravated assault of a private security officer with a firearm, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in a park, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. The charges are all felonies.
Judge Susana Ortiz granted a state request to hold Jackson without bail.